Apparatus for forging metal.



B. E. SLICK.

APPARATUS FOR FURGING METAL- APPLICATION hum 1:20.20. 1912.

1,114,396. Patentd 0012 1914 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1. r

WITNESSES NVENTQR Ma/4M;

E. E. SLICK.

APPARATUS FOR. FORGING METAL.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 20', 1912.

1,1 14,396. Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

4 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

a rl'] YINVVENTOR wa /M B. E. SLICK. APPARATUS FORFOBGING METAL.

APPLICATION mum 1130.20. 1912.

1,1 14,396, Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES mvENfbfi E. E. SLICK.

APPARATUS FOB. FORGING METAL.

APPLICATION FILED 1120.20. 1912.

1,1 14,396. Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

FIG. 5

FIG.4

WITNESSES INVENTOR EDWIN E. SLICK, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR FORGING METAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 20, EH4.

Application filed December 20, 1912. Serial No. 737,790.

To all whom it may concern:

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, partly Be it known that I, EnwIN SLICK, a in section, the section being taken on the line citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Forging Metal, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the construction of apparatus used in forging metal, and while not restricted to such use more particular] y relates to apparatus used in rolling or roller-forgin solids of revolution such as, for example, integrally formed car wheels having hub, web and tread portions.

One object of this invention is to provide apparatus for forging metal, of improved construction, having opposed, relatively movable die faces whereby the metal being rolled or forged is caused to assume the desired form, and having novel means by which the relative travel or movement of the opposing die faces toward and away from each other is regulated and controlled and is adjusted or restricted to bring the opposing die faces to a, stop at a predetermined distance apart at the completion of successive forgingi operations.

Another ob ect of the invention is to provide apparatus for forging metal having improved means whereby the opposing die faces are caused to move toward and away from each other and the amount of forward movement or-movelnent of approach is adjusted and controlled.

A further object of my invention is to 'n'ovide a novel construction and arrangement of the opposin rotary die supports and means whereby the opposing die sup- :orts are secured together and held in place, and by which positioning the materials being rolled between the die faces is facilitatcd and the time required in such positioning operations is lessened.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a roller-forging machine having novel means whereby the strains set up in the operation of the apparatus are distributcd and equalized, and further objects of the invention will appear as the apparatus is more fully described and claimed hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a plan showing apparatus for forging constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention.

IIII of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 Ba sectional end elevation, the right hand half of the section being taken on the line IIIIII of Fig. 1,

and the left hand half on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1. Fig. tis a sectional side elevation showing a modified form of forging apparatus constructed in accordance with m invention. Fig. 5 is a front elevation o the apparatus shown in Fig. 4.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanyin drawings, the numerals 2 and 3 designate forging dies removably secured to the flanges 4 and 5 on the adjoining ends of horizontally extending rotary shafts 6 and 7, which are mounted in roller thrust-bean ings 8 and 9 located at opposite ends of the apparatus. Bearings of any approved construction may be employed in place of the particular type shown.

The shafts 6 and 7 are arranged to extend lengthwise between the horizontal box girders 10 and 11, the axial center of the shaft 6 in a horizontal plane extending ata slight.

angle to that of the shaft 7. One end of each of the box girders 10 and 11 is secured to the base-plate or bed-plate 12 which is also constructed to form a support between the girders 10 and 11 for the thrust bearing 8 in which the shaft 6 is rotatably mounted. The opposite end of each of the girders 10 and 11 is connected to the flange 13 conveniently formed on one end of the single-acting hydraulic cylinder 14 and the cylinder 14 is mounted upon one end of the baseplate 15 provided for that purpose. The base plate 15 is also provided with side portions engaging with and supporting the ends of the girders 10 and 11 connected to the flange 13 of the cylinder 14.

Tie-bolts l6 and 17 having nuts 18 on the screw threaded ends thereof, extend horizontally through suitabl openings in the hollow girders l0 and 11 to secure the base plate 12, forming the supportfor the bearing 8, to the cylinder 14, located at the op posite end of the girders, and to secure the girders l0 and ii, the base plate 12 and the cylinder 14 in assembled relation.

The axes of the shafts 6 and 7, the tie rods 16 and i7, and the girders 1'0 and 11, are all in the same horizontal plane, as will be seen by reference to Figs. 2 and 3, this construc tion equalizing the strains put upon the apparatus during the rolling operations and avoiding any obstruction or hindrance to the insertion and centering of the metal blanks between the dies in position to be rolled from a position immediatelv above means of foundation bolts, in the usual manner.

The outer end of the shaft 6, or shaft to which the die 2 having an angular face is secured, is.provided with a wabbler connecion 23 which is connected by means of a coupling box 24 to one end of a spindle 25 and the spindle 25 is connected by its oppo-,

site end to thedriving shaft of a steam engine motor, or other prime mover (not hawn).

- djjy, reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that th ines of contact of the opposite die faces withf the blank A in a horizontal plane, "tlirdugh the longitudinal center of the die hafts and dies, are parallel although the axis of rotation of the shaft 6 is not parallel to that of the shaft 7.

I The die shaft 7 which rotates in its hearing 9 will be driven or caused to rotate by frictional engagement with the metal being operated on between .the die faces 2 and 3 during the rolling operations but, in order to overcome the inertia of the rotary shaft 7 and parts supported thereon at the beginning of the successive rolling operations, a

spur gear 26 on the shaft 7 is connected by slow-down gears 27 and 28 to an electric shaft driving motor 29 which is conveniently mounted on top of the bearing 9. The motor 2!), obviously, may, when desired, be operated to prevent the shaft 7 from stopping between successive rolling operations so that the shaft 7 will constantly rotate or the motor may in some cases be omitted.

The bearing 9 carrying the shaft 7 is arranged to reciprocate horizontally in a direction parallel to the axis of the shaft 7,

the opposite sides of the bearing 9 being provided with guides 9 which engage with the slides 30, 30, 31, 31, located on the sides of the girders 10 and 11 and the rear end of the bearing 9 is connected to the flange 32 on one end of'the plunger 33 which is operatively mounted in the single-acting hydraulic cylinder 14 forming the power means for causing a relative approach of the forging (lie fares during the rolling operations.

Single-acting pullback oylinders34, 34,

which are formed within the body of the casting forming the cylinder 14 on opposite sides of the axis of the cylinder 14, have plungers 35 mounted therein which are connected by one end to the ends of a crosshead 36, the plungers 35 and crosshead providing means for moving the plunger 33 backwardly and the crosshead forming a stop operatively engaging with the rear end of the cylinder 14, for a purpose described later.

The plunger 33 is hollow and is provided with an axial opening through which the rod or shaft 37 extends, a forcing fit being made between the rod and plunger, and the rod or shaft, adjacent to one end, is provided with a flange 38 which is positioned-in the counterboredportion 39 of the hollow plunger 33. The other end of the shaft 37 extends through the stuffing box 40 and .gland in the rear end of the cylinder 14, and is adjustably connected by means of the screw threaded nut 41 and lock nut 42 to the crosshead 36 to which the plungers 35 of the two pullback cylinders 34 are connected. In this way the outward stroke of the piston 33 in the cylinder 14 isvaried and the distance between the faces of the dies 2 and 3, when at the end of their approaching movement, is adjusted as is desired, and the dies are caused to come to a stop at a predetermined distance apart in the successive rolling opera tions by engagement of" the crosshead 36 with the end of the cylinder 14.

A tapering pin 43 is provided which is removably secured in the axially central recess or hole in the die 3 to center the blanksbetween the die faces and the rear end of the rolling pin 43 is engaged by one end of a pushing rod 44 which has a flange 45 at an intermediate point in its length.

' The rod 44 extends lengthwise through the axial opening in the shaft 7 and enga ing with one side of the flange 45 on the rod is a hollow housing 46 having helical sprir'ig 47 positioned therein. The inner end of the rod 44 is secured by a pin or otherwise fastened to one end of the plunger 48 opera-tively mounted in the cylinder which is formed by the opening or recess 49 in one end of the rod or shaft 37.

The outer end of the plunger 48 engages with the spring 47 in the housing 46, and the housing 46 engages by one end with a shoulder formed on the interior of the hollow shaft 7 so that when the plunger 48 is advanced in the cylinder 49 the spring 47 is usual and well known construction and a fluid inlet opening is provided on the cylinthe engine or other driving motor.

der to admit fluid pressure thereto for actuating the plunger 48.

The die 2 having an angular forming face and the die 3, which are mounted on the adjacent ends of the shafts 6 and 7, are constructed to form flanged wheels A, but by substituting other similarly formed dies, other solids of revolution are formed to the desired contour and size.

In the modified forging apparatus shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the base plate 52, which is secured upon a suitable foundation, is connected by means of four tie rods or bolts to the lugs 56 on the single acting fluid pressure cylinder 57, and the cylinder 57 isprovided with a downwardly extending plunger 58 having an extension or tail ,5?) thereon which projects through the rear or upper end of the cylinder 57, a stntling box 60 and gland 61 for the tail 59 of the usual construction being formed on the rear end of the cylinder 57.

Thebase plate 52 is provided with an anvil block'62 and the lower end of the plunger 58 has an anvil block 63 removably secured thereto which co-acts with the a-n vil block 62 in the for-gin operations, and a stufiing box 64 and gland 65 are provided on the front or lower end of the cylinder 57 throu h which the plunger 58 projects, this stu ng box and gland also being of the ordinary construction.

Located on opposite sides of the recess in the cylinder 57 for the plunger 58 are two parallel recesses forming single acting pullback cylinders 66, 66, these cylinders having plungers 67 which project upwardly through the stuffing boxes 68 and lands 69 on the outer upper end of these cy inders. A crosshead 70 is secured on ,the rearwardly extending tail 59 of the plunger 58, this crosshead being adjustably held in position by means of the nut 71 on the screw threaded end of the tail 59, and a lock nut 7 2 is also provided to hold the nut 71 in adjusted position. The ends of the crosshead 70-are connected to or engaged by the outer ends of the plungers 67 in the pull-back cylinders .66, these plungers serving to retract or lift the plunger 58 in the operations of the forging apparatus.

The crosshead 70 has a stop portion 73 which engages with the end of the cylinder 57 and limits the downward or outward movement of the plunger 58 in the same way as in the apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

In the operation of my improved apparatus as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the motor 29 is started so as to cause the shaft 7 to rotate in its bearing 9 and the shaft 6 is positively driven, through the spindle 25 and coupling box 24 connected to the wab bler 23 on the end of the shaft 6, by starting Fluid pressure is then admitted to the pullback cylinders 34 to cause the die 3 to move backwardly and thereby bring the dies 2 and 3 into a relatively separated position, and a rolling pin 43 is then mounted in the axially central recess in the die 3.

Before starting" to operate the apparatus in making wheels or other articles being formed, the crosshcad 36 is positioned on. the shaft 37 by nninipulating the nut 11 and lock nut 42 on the screw threaded end of this shaft so that when the opposing faces of the dies 2 and 3 are moved toward each other by the plunger 33 to the fullest extent desired or necessary, the crcsshcad 36 will be in engagement with the rear end of the hydraulic cylinder 1-1, in this way forming a stop by which the possible relative approaching movement of the die faces made uniforin or constant in any number of successive forging operations. A heated blank is then inserted between the faces of the forging dies 2 and 3 and fluid pres ure is admitted to the cylinder 14: so as to cause the plunger 33 to move outwardly within the cylinder 14 and move the die 3 toward the die 2, in this way bringing the metal between the die faces into working engagement with the angular face of the rotating die 2. ger 34 is then continued gradually while the dies and blank between the die faces are being rotated until the material being roller forged is formed to contour and size and when this occurs the crosshead 36 forming the stop will be in engagement with the end of the cylinder 14 so that no further approachin movement of the die faces 2 and 3 is possible.

During the rolling or roller forging operation the metal is forged upon the taper pin 43 and will be found to tightly engage with this pin which makes it necessary or desirable in order to facilitate the rolling operationsto remove the pin with the rolled wheel from the die 3 after each rolling operation. The pin 43 however may be tapered to such an extent that the metal being formed will not tightly grasp the pin in the rolling operations and in his way the same pin be used for an indefinite time. Fluid pressure is then admitted to the pullback cylinders 34 which causes the plungcrs 35 to move outwardly therein and as the outer ends of these plungers are operatively connected to the crosshead 36 the shaft 37 is moved axially, which movement moves the plunger 33 inwardly within the hydraulic cylinder 14. This inward movement of the plunger 33 retracts the bearing 9 and shaft 7 mounted therein and the die 3 on the end of the shaft 7 so that'the faces of the dies 2 and 3 are caused to separate. Fluid pressure is then admitted to the cylinder 49 formed in the end of the shaft 37 which The forward movement of the pluncauses the plunger 48 to move' outwardly therein, and this movement of the plunger 48, through the medium of the rod or shaft 44, forces the pin 43 from its seat in the die 3 and in this way removes or dislodges the wheel or other article from within the recesses of the die 3. The above described operations are then repeated with successsive blanks in the continued use of the apparatus.

In the operation of the foregoing apparatus shown in. Figs. 4 and 5, the anvil 63 is reciprocated vertically toward and away from the anvil 62 in the forging operations and the extent of the extreme downward or forging movement of the anvil 63 is regulated and controlled in successive strokes so as to always causethe anvil face to travel the same adjusted distance when moved by I the plunger 58. In this way the minimum thickness to which an article is forged is made adjustable and is automatically controlled by adjusting the crosshead to hold the die faces the desired distance apart.

The advantages of my invention, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, arise from the provision and novel construction of the stop by which the forging stroke or length of approaching movement of the (lie faces is regulated and controlled. The construction and location of the side girders enables the horizontal axis of the girders and the'die supporting shafts to be in the same horizontal plane, which distributes the Working strains and forces uniformly throughout the' apparatus and enables the blanks to be easily and quickly inserted and removed from between the faces of the forming dies. By so constructing the forging apparatus, the difficulties in handling the metal in placing the metal blanks between the (lie faces are removed and lessened. By means of my improved pushing arrangement the pins upon which the metal is rolled are readily removed from the supporting die at the completion of each rolling operation.

Modifications in the construetion and ar rangement of the parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from my invention.

I claim:

1. Forging apparatus comprising in combination rotary shafts having their axes extending at an angle to eachother, forming die faces on the ends of said shafts, means for positively driving at least one of said shafts and forming dies, means for causing a relative approach of said die faces, and means forming a stop to limit the approach ing movement of said die faces.

. 2. Forging apparatus comprising in combination rotary shafts having their axes ex-' tending at an angle to each other and havmg opposed forming die faces .on the ends thereof, means for positively driving at least one of said shafts and forming dies, means for causing a relative approaching movement of the die faces, and means forming a stop to limit the approaching movement of said die faces, said stop being adjustable to vary the length of said approaching movement.

3. Forging apparatus comprising in com bination rotary shafts having their axes extending at an oblique angle to each other, means for positively driving at least one of said shafts, means for causing a relative endwise approach of the shafts, and means forming a stop tolimit said approaching movement.

4. Forging apparatus comprising in combination rotary shafts having theiraxes extending at an oblique angle to each other, means for positively driving at least one of said shafts, means for causing a relative endwise approach of said shafts, and means forming a stop to limit the approaching movement of the shafts, said stop being adjustable to vary the length of approaching movement. 7

5. Forging apparatus comprising in combination rotary shafts having their axes extending at an oblique angle to each other, means for positively driving at least one of said shafts, means for causing a relative endwise approach of the shafts in a path parallel to the axis of one of said shafts, and means forming a'stop to limit the approaching movement of said shafts.

6. Forging apparatus comprising in combination rotary shafts having their axes extending at an oblique angle to each other, means for positively driving at least one of said shafts, means for causing a relative endwise approach of the shafts in a path parallel to the axis of one of said shafts, and means forming a stop to limit the approaching movement ofsaid shafts, said stop being adjustable to vary the lengthof said movement of approach.

\ 7 Forging apparatus comprising in com bination rotary shafts having their axes extending at an oblique angle to each other, means for positively driving at least3one of said shafts, means for moving one shaft endwise toward the other, and means form ing a stop to limit the. length of endwise movement of said shaft.

8. Forging apparatus comprising in combination rotary shafts having their axes extending at an oblique angle to each othermeans for positively driving at least one 0 said .shafts, means for moving one shaft endwise toward the other, and means forming a stop to limit the length of endwise movement of said shaft, said stop being ad- "justable to vary the length of said movement of approach. i

9. Apparatus for forging comprising in 13 tally disposed girders on opposite sides f eombinatlon rotary shafts axially disposed at an oblique angle in a horizontal plane and having forming die faces on adjacent ends thereof, means for positively driving at least one shaft, power means for causing a relative endwise movement of said shafts, horizon said shafts to which the shaft bearingdl 1 shaft reciprocating means aresecured, and tie bolts connecting the shaft bearings and shaft reciprocating means with said girders, the axes of said bolts and shafts being in the same horizontal plane.

10. Apparatus for forging comprising in combination rotary shafts axially disposed at an oblique angle in a horizinal plane and having forming'die faces removably secured on adjacent ends thereof, bearings for said shafts, means for positively driving at least one of said shafts, means for causing a relative movement of said die faces toward and away from each other, tie bolts connecting the shaft bearings and, die reciprocating means, the axes of said dies and bolts being in the same horizontal plane.

11. Apparatus for forging comprising in combination rotary shafts axially disposed at an oblique angle in a horizontal plane and having forming die faces on adjacent ends thereof, means for independently rotating said shafts, power means for .causing a relative endwise movement of said (he; faces, girders horizontally disposed on op'-.' posite sides of said shafts to which the shaft bearings and means for endwise movement are secured, and tie bolts connecting the shaft bearings and the shaft reciprocating means with said girders, the axis of said bolts and shafts being in the same horizontal plane. I

12. Apparatus for forging comprising incombination rotary shafts axially disposed at an oblique angle in a horizontal plane and having forming die faces on adjacent ends thereof, bearings for said shafts, means for driving at least one shaft, a singleacting hydraulic cylinder having a plunger arranged to move one shaft endwise toward the opposite shaft, hydraulic pullback cylinders having plungers to move said 'shaft in the opposite direction, and a crosshoad connecting the plungers for the pullback cylinders and single-acting cylinder, said crosshead forming a stop to limit the length of endwise movement of the reciprocatory shaft.

13. Apparatus for forging comprising in combination rotary shafts axially disposed at an oblique angle in a horizontal plane and having forming die faces on adjacent ends thereof, bearings for said shafts, means for driving at least one shaft, a single-acting hydraulic cylinder having a plunger arranged to move one shaft endwise toward the opposite shaft, hydraulic pullback cylinders having plungers to move said shaft in the opposite direction, and a crosshe'ad connecting the plungers for the pullback cylinders and single-acting cylinder, said crosshead-being adjustable toform a stop wheretby the stroke of said reciprocatory shaft is varied.

l4. Forging apparatus comprising in combination opposed anvil faces, a fluid pressure cylinder having a reciprocating plunger, on which one of said anvil faces is mounted, for causing a relative approach of the anvil faces, and an adjustable stop by which the stroke of said reci rocating plunger is varied to control the orging distance between the anvil faces.

15. Forging apparatus comprising in combination opposed anvil faces, a fluid pressure cylinder having a reciprocatin plunger on which one of said anvil aces is mounted for causing a relative approach of the anvil faces, and an adjustable stop on said plunger by which the stroke of said reciprocating plunger and the anvil face thereon is varied and the forgin distance between the anvil faces is regulated and controlled.

16. Forging apparatus comprising in combination opposed anvil faces, a fluid pressure cylinder having a reciprocating plunger on which one of said anvil faces is mounted, for causing a relative approach of the anvil faces, fluid pressure pullback cylinders having plungers for retracting said reciprocating plunger, and a crosshead connecting said plungers, said crosshead forming a stop to control the forging stroke of said reciprocating plunger.

17. Forging apparatus comprising in combination opposed anvil faces, a fluid plunger, on which one of said anvil faces is secured, for causing a relative approach of the anvil faces, fluid pressure pullback cylinders having plungers for retracting said reciprocating plunger and the anvil face thereon, a crosshead connecting said plungers, said crosshead forming an adjustable stop to control the forging stroke of said reciprocatin plunger, and adjusting means whereby t e crosshead is held in adjusted position on the reciprocating plunger.

combination opposed anvil faces, a fluid pressure cylinder having a reciprocating plunger on which one of said anvil faces is mounted for causing a relative approach of jecting through said cylinder, and an ad' justab e stop on said extension whereby the stroke of said plunger is varied to control faces.

19. Forging apparatus comprisingin com- 18. Forging apparatus comprising in.

.pressure cylinderhaving a reciprocating the anvil faces, a rearward extension prothe forging distance between the anvil bination opposed anvil faces, a fluid presl sure cylinder, havingra reciprocating plunger on which one of said anvil faces is mounted,

for ca.using a relative approach of,the anvil 'faces, a rearward extension projecting through said cylinder, fluid pressure pullback'cylinders having plungers for retracting said reciprocating plungerand the anvil face thereon, a crossheadconnecting the pullback cylinder plungers with the rearward extension on said reciprocating plunget, and a. nut. by which saidcrosshead is reciprocating plunger and the anvil face thereon is varied and controlled.

In testimony whereof, I havelieietinto set my hand.

EDWIN E. SLICK.

Witnesses ANNA T, SLICK,- LETITIA A. MYERS.

Gopies of ,this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

